Electric switch.



\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ *lII/IIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIII III E. B. MERRIAM. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1912.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIII \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m\\\\\\\\\\\\ .lm/entoh Ezra B Mer-Piam ,QKAAJ 3 HisJfULoPn e 5 sulating fluid by the arc tially condensed before escaping to the open Pi TENT OFFICE.

"N YORK, ASSIGNGR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC A. GOEIEGILEIEIQN 01:" NEVJ YORK.

51V] TECH,

Spa

Original application filed. June 23, 1911, S21" T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA ldnnumiu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, (division of my application filed June 23, 1911, Serial No. (334,951,) of which the tollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to electric svitches, particularly switches in which the circuit is opened by means of contacts which separate in oil or other suitable insulating fluid, and its object is to provide an electric switch which will open the circuit in a suitable in sulating fluid, such as oil, without scattering oil over the surroundings or permitting gases at a temperature high enough to'be conductive, or to ignite, to come into dangerous proximity to live parts of the system; in which gases generated from the in are cooled and parair; in which the fluids ejected from the switch are diverted from a dangerous direction of flow and compelled to flow to a point where they can do no damage; in which oil set in motion by the opening of the switch is trapped and directed in such manner that it does no harm to the surroundings of the switch; in which the oil pot is thoroughly insulated and accidental contact with live parts of it rendered impossible; and which is improved in the many details hereinafter set forth more at length.

My invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings which show merely for purposes or illustration some of the various forms in which my invention is embodied and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a form of switch embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross section of a modification also embodying my invention.

In the form of switch shown in Fig. 1, the oil vessel comprises a strong metallic vessel 16 partially filled with oil and having near the bottom a fixed contact 17 which coiiperates with a movable contact rod 18, moved into and out of engagement with the tired contact 17 by any suitable operating mechanism and guided through the top of the oil vessel 16 by a hollow insulator 19 which is vification of Letters Patent.

1 No. 6' 2. Serial No. 715,228.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Bivided and this application filed August 15,

secured in any suitable manner to the top 20 of the oil vessel. When the circ it opens, the oil is retained in the oil vessel by means of a perforated ballie or partition 21 having a central opening, through which the movable contact rod 18 passes, and held in position a short dis tance above the fixed contact 17 by supporting rods of wood or other suitable insulating material) in order that the pressures in the vessel may not rise too high when the circuit is being opened, thc top QOis provided with vents 23- iminediati zly adjacent the hollow insulator 19, and, in order to intercept and deflect any gases and oil which may escape from the vents 1 provide some suitable form of diverter, rich as the diverter 24 mounted in a position to intercept fluid flowing from the vents Q3 and to direct the fluid downwardly along the external walls oi the oil vessel The particular form of diverter shown in Fig 1 is made in the form of an insulating shell or casing which completely incloses the walls of the oil vessel 16 and which is provided near the bottom with escape openings 25, through which the gases ejected from the oil vessel 16 may escape after they have been diverted and directed alo'ng the walls of the oil vesse l. The insulating diverter 2% also protects the operator from accidental contact with the oil pot 16 which is alive at the potential or the fixed contact 17.

ii the circuit is carrying a large amount of energy when the contacts 17 and 18 separate, the are which is formed will put the oil in the oil vessel 16 under pressure and some of the oil, mingled with air and with the gases generated by the action oi the are on the oil, will be ejected through the vents 23 with considerable velocity, but will be caught by the diverter 24: and directed downward where the oil is caught andgetained in the bottom of the diverter. At the same time the hot gases escaping through the vent will, be caught and held bythc diverter and will be cooled to a very considerable extent, so that, when they finally escape through the openings 15, they will lac-cooled to such an extent that they will not easily/ignite. By collecting in the divcrter the oil' ejecte The and I therefore do w by Letters Patent of the a I very closely the amount of Oil lert in the 011 pct 16 and the oil drained out of the diverter by the drain in the switch.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 2, the oil vessel and other parts are the same as shown in Fig. l, but the bell-shaped diverter 97 of metal is secured to the hollow insulator l9 and ineloses only the upper cock 26 may be used again part of the oil vessel 16. With the metal diverter the gases are more efiectually LOlEd than with the insulating diverter 24:.

diverter is proportioned to cool the escapi'rrg gases very effectively and to deflect the jet of gases and oil from the switch toward the ground where no damage will e done.

My invention may be embodied inmany other forms than that shown and described not limit my invention to the precise arrangement disclosed but aim to cover all modifications which are within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims. X What I claim as new and desire to secure United States, is,-

lfln an electric switch, the combination with a substantially closed vessel containing insulating fluid and having a vent in one wall thereof, of relatively movable cooperatin contacts separable beneath the surface of said fluid, and a diverter mounted to form a hollow chamber over and extending down the to surround said vent whereby iiuid and gases escaping through said vent are conducted downwardly along the walls of said sides of said vessel vessel.

2. A circuit interrupting device compris- 'ing a substantially closed vessel containing oil and having a vent in the top portion thereof, relativel separable in said oil, and a diverter forming a hollow chamber over the top of said vessel to inclose said vent and extending down the sides of said vessel to conduct downwardly and along the walls of' said vessel all gases and fluid escaping through said vent.

3. A circuit interrupting device comprising a substantially closed vessel containing portion oil and having a vent in the top the top of said vesselravines thereof, cooperating fixed and movable contacts separable beneath the oil in said vessel, an insulator mounted in the top portion of said vesselthrough which said movable Contact moves, and a casing mounted on said insulator outside said vessel to inclose said vent and form a hollow chamber around the top and a portion of the walls of said vessel. I

In. an electric switch, the combination with a substantially closed vessel containing oil and having a vent in the top portion thereof, of relatively movable contacts separable in said oil, and a diverter mounted on the outside of closing said vent chamber over the top and sides of said vessel, whereby fluid and gases escaping through said vent as said contacts-separate are conducted downwardly along the walls of said vessel.

In an electric switch, the combination with a substantially closedflvessel containing oil and having a vent in the top portion thereof, of relatively movable contacts mounted to separate beneath the surface of said oil, and a diverter of insulating material .inclosing said vent and forming a hollow chamber around the top and extending down the sides of said vessel acting to direct downwardly gases and oil escaping from said vent as said contacts separate. i

6. In an electric switch, with a substantially closed vessel containing oil and having a vent in the top portion thereof, of relatively movable cooperating contacts mounted to separate in said oil, a baflling member in the path of oil ejected toward said vent as said contacts separate, and an insulating casing inclosing said vent and forming a hollow chamber around said oil vessel to act as a diverter of fluid and gases escaping from. said vent.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this llth day of August, 1912. I

nzna l3. MERRIAM.

the combination HELEN Osman. 

